Value setting



Sept. 30, 1952 F. J. ROUAN ETAL 2,612,104

VALVE SETTING, PRINTING, AND REGISTERING DEVICE Filed July 12, 1947 5 Sheets-$1eet 1 lNVE ToRs As i. Eouo rzwo/d K/muer ATTORNEY Se t. 30, 1952 F. J. ROUAN ETAL VALVE SETTING. PRINTING AND REGISTERING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 12, 1947 Y I I f 2 ATT Sept. 30, 1952 F. J. ROUAN ETAL 2,612,104

VALVE ssr'rmc, PRINTING. AND REGISTERING DEVICE Filed July 12, 1947 s Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY F. J. ROUAN ET AL Sept. 30, 1952 VALVE SETTING, PRINTING, AND REGISTERING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 12, 1947 Patented Sept. 30, 1932 UNITED STATE I REGISTERING DEVICE Francis J. Bouan, Stamford, and Berthold tion of Delaware Knauer, East Norwalk, Conn., assignors to Pitney-Bowes, Inc., Stamford, Conn., a corpora- Application July 12, 1947, Serial No. 760,590

3 Claims. (01. 10191) r This invention relates to an improved mechanism for use in a rotary postage printing and metering device for the combined selective setting of value type wheels and the setting or register actuator mechanism, and more particularly to means whichpermit rotation of settable elements with the printing device during a printing cycle 0f operation.

* In postage printing and metering devices, a 'manual Setting of a value to be printed and registered is effected before starting a cycle of machine "operation. A meter unit comprises a stationary housing wherein the registering mechanism is maintained, and a rotatable printing drum wherein the value type wheels are mounted. Setting of the type wheels and register actuator mechanism is effected by setting levers positioned in the stationary housing. When the drum rotates during a cycle of operation the direct connection between the setting means and rotatin settable elements associated with the rotatable printing drum, which will permit rotation of the printing drum while the setting levers remain stationary. I I I It is another object to provide type wheel setting elements with rack teeth intermediate the ends thereof, and a rotative element with cylindrical rack teeth coinciding with the said rack teeth of the settable elements, also manually adjustable elements with teeth which mesh with therack teeth of the settable elements when setting is effected, the same being arranged to permit the rack teeth --of the setting elements and the cylindrical rack teeth of the rotative element to move throughthe tooth spaces of the teeth 'of the manually adjustable element during a.

ment of the invention herein disclosed may be' made within the scope of what is claimed withlout departingirom the spirit of the invention. a A preferred embodiment of the inventionis illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein! .1

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal, part sectional and part elevational view, showing the mechanism of a postage meter including type wheel setting and register actuator mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, with parts in section; I

Fig. 3 is a plan sectional view taken substantially through thecenter of the printing drum and drum shaft, and including a-plan elevational view of a portion of the register actuator and type wheel setting mechanism, also the drive mechanism; v

Fig. 4 is an end sectional view, taken substantially along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view showing'a portion of the printing drum with-the type wheel Fig. 5;

' the's'etting of the type wheels; I

1 the time of actuating a one digit value; 4:.

-tion of an associated six-tooth pinion during the one digit actuating position bf the variable toothed 'actuatorgear, as shown in' Fig.1

40 drive; and

in a frame l3. driven by a suitable drive means; such Tas aJiiia'n- 1 meter frame I3, registeringmechanisin'islmounh I Fig. 13. I

and setting elements therein; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail sectional side view of the type wheel and setting elements'show-n-fin Fig. 7 is a grouped view showing the-structure of the several rack elements which are ujsedior Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are enlarged detail operational views showing the arrangement of a six-toothed pinion and associated variable toothed actuator gear in a choke position, and first toothed drive 43g.

positions; Fig. 1 1 is a sectional view through a variable toothed actuator gear and six to'othed pinion at Fig. 12 is a sectional view. taken substantially along the line l2--l2' of Fig. 2; sh'owing the posi- 1 Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional"viewmtalien through 'a register wheel showinga differential Fig. 14 is a view taken along the line l4 I of I Referring to the drawingsiizi detaiL a postage meter unit generally comprises a' rotatable? printing drum I0 having numeral type" wheels xll mounted therein, the drum beingisupportedzona drum shaft l2, which shaft is suitably supported The shaft 12 isadapted'to be ually actuated spiral gear" drive indicated ass ora power drive through gearillla. Withinithe register actuating means; as generally indicated reference numeral representing each group. To.

simplify the reading of the separate elements of each group, however, letter sufixeswillbe added to thedesignating reference numerals on the drawing to indicate the denomination represented by each of the elements wherever it is,

deemed necessary. The suffix letters will includeU for the units, T for the tens, H for the hundreds, and X for the thousands denominartions.

As best shown in Fig. 3, the type wheels. H are carried on a shaft I8, mounted within the priming drum llLandeach type wheel has. a pinion l9 connected thereto. Said type wheel pin- .ions 19 are adapted to be adjusted. by longitudinally movable rack bars 2| through intermediate segmental gear members 29, each gear member; including an. outer toothed segment 22 and, an. inner toothed segment 22a. The longitudinally movable rack bars 21 are. slidably mounted within longitudinal recesses 49-40 in the drurn shaft I2, in the manner best shown in'Figs. 3 and" 4, and. are constructed in the manner indicated in Fig, 7., to provide alignment of the rack; toothed, portions thereof, and for their meshed engagement with the intermediate, seg- .m ent gear. portions 22a, The saiclrack. bars 2| extend from the drum. into the meter frame [3 and are located within the drum shaft [2 in pairs, on; oppositesides thereof, in the manner indicated in Fig. 4.

, Thed tumgshaft [21s provided with cylindrical teeth} 2.3.; Figrfirandt e rac ba .4, a rack teeth 24 which are adapted to become alisnedw th he; cy i dric r kt thfl in any adiustedro o ftherack.

Variable toothed. actuator gears 25 are, mounted: on. scliried. s afts.- 5 which sh t are suitably supported wi h the ra struc ure at-as: best ndicated. in Fi 2;. In; the structu e illus rated. twq. actuator. gears H d 2-511 are mounted on one shaft 26, and 25T and252; are mounted; n. the. other shaft.- and said shafts 25.1-26.- are: positioned on. opposite sides; of; the drum shaft. It, Each; actuator gear.- has. nine groups, of; toothed sectors numbering. from I $919,. andeach gear; is adapted; toabe. adjusted along: its; associated. shaft 26: to move: a desired toothed sector, into operative alignment with an associated six-toothed pinion 21. The sixtoothed pinions 21; mesh with intermediate: gears 28, Fig.

I erally-indicated at: H, Figs. 3 and/i, and settable lslide bars132. both the: mutilated gears 25 and rack; bars 2!- arev adapted; to be adjustedlongitudinally to positions conforming with the: value awhicheit is desired to print and'register. 'Each si'ideibar 32' has a tongue: portion: 33 adapted. to.

engage a groove 34 in an associated actuator gear 25, and further has a horizontally disposed rack portion 35 having rack teeth which mesh with the rack toothed portions 24 of the rack bars 2|. Said slidable bars 32 further have rack teeth 3'l, Fig. l, which mesh with associated pinions 38. The said pinionsv 38 are mounted on shafts 39-39, which shafts are supported in suitable bearings 4l-4l, forming part of the frame structure l3.

Setting levers 42 are adapted to be rocked about a shaft 43, which shaft is mounted in bearings 44-44. Each setting lever has a segmental gear: portion 45 joined therewith, which is adapt- 1 ed to mesh with an associated pinion 46, also fixed. to the shaft 39. Hence, any motion of a setting lever from the 0" to the 9" positions will eifect rotation of the pinions 46 and 38 to move the slidable members 32 and thereby efiect adjustment of associated actuator gears 25 and rackv bars 2|.

The use of six-toothed pinions 27' with. the actuator gears25 provides a substantial choke, to prevent overthrow, as, will. be, noted in Fig. 8, butv when a drive of the pinion is affected as indicated in Fig. 9,, the first tooth, of the pinion will have movedthrough a distance equivalent to a two digit count, while the first tooth of the gear has moved only the distance of one tooth. This will be clearly observed by the position of the shaded tooth of the pinionin Figs. 8,9 andl0.

In. view of. such two-toothed movement of. the pinion for one-tooth movement. of. the gear, the actuator gear will require only asingle toothto effect a count of two, and. in the, same, manner two teeth will eifect. a count of three, three teeth will effect a count of four,. etc; To produce a count of one with said actuator. gear, a special one-toothed gear portion is provided, as indicated at 43, and a separate pinion is provided at 49 in such manner that when an actuator gear 25 is moved to effect a one-tooth. setting, the one-toothed gear portion 48 will. become. aligned with. the pinion 49.. Referring to Fig 11,,it. will be. noted that theone-toothed gear portion 48, has no choking. surface relative to the teeth of, the pinion 49.. Hence thepinion49 does nottake the same relative position, as the pinion,2-.| and as. aresult the effective operation. of the onetooth gear, portion will 0n1y produce, one, tooth rotationof the pinion 49;.'. Choking isadapted to beeffected however, through pinion 2:7, which, during the one-tooth setting, is in alignment witha depression, 5| in the-actuating, gear; 25 and is so positioned that,when the one -toothedd'rive is. efiected, a tooth.- of an. associated pinion 21 will engage the depression '5! in the manner indicated in Fig- 12.. After; the one-tooth operation, the teeth of the pinion. will effectchoking across the choking; surface ofr the.- actuator gear in the same mannerasshownin Fig- 8;

The setting of a value. forprinting will; be

' effected, whensetting: lever 4-2t'is;ro,tated about the shaft; 43, which, rotation willeffectmWement of an associated gear segment 45 and; pinions 4B; and 38 to thus move; an associatedslidable bar 32. Movement} of. said slidable; barr 3.2; will operative; relationwith an ssociat dpinion.

and said value will be entered in the registering mechanism l5 when the teeth of the actuator gears 25 actuate the intermediate gears 28-28 a and gearing 29-29a.

' It will be noted that each of the first four register wheels is adapted to be driven directly by an associated actuator gear. This may be accomplished by means of planetary differential gearing within each register wheel, such as disclosed in Figs. 13 and 14. The drive from an actuator gear 25, through associated gearing to the pinion 29a, will effect the drive of a sun-gear 62. Another sun gear 53 is normally held fast,

' as a result of a Geneva transfer connection with a numeral wheel of lower order. Therefore, the planetary gears 54 and 55 will rotate around the sun gears 52 and 53 respectively. With the planetary ears 54'. and 55 mounted in the numeral wheel casing, the numeral wheel will rotate when the planetary gears rotate.

Having described the invention what is claimed is:

1. In a value printing and value registering machine, in combination, a printing drum and drum shaft, a type wheel in said drum, a cylindrically toothed rack comprising a fixed-part of the drum shaft and rotatable therewith, said drum shaft and cylindrically toothed rack having a longitudinal peripheral recess therein, longitudinally settable toothed means, manual setting means operatively connected with the settable toothed means, a member longitudinallf, slidable within the longitudinal recess androtatable with-said shaft, rack teeth on said member geared to the type wheel, and rack teeth on said member meshing with the settable toothed means and normally coinciding with tooth spaces between the cylindrical rack teeth after setting is effected, whereby adjustment of the slidable rack toothed member is adapted to be effected to place a selected value type in a printing position, and whereby the rack teeth geared to the settable toothed means will move with the cylindrical rack teeth through the tooth spaces of the settable toothed means during rotation of the shaft.

2. In a value printing and value registerin machine, in combination, a printing drum and drum shaft, a type wheel in said drum, 2. register wheel including gearing therefor, a variable toothed actuator longitudinalhr adjustable relative to the register wheel gearing, a cylindrically toothed rack onsaid drum shaft, said shaft and cylindrically toothed rack having a peripheral longitudinal recess therein, a rack bar having teeth coinciding with the cylindrical rack teeth and positioned in said recess, said rack bar further having teeth geared to the type wheel, and selective means including an element movable longitudinally of the drum shaft, said element having teeth meshing with the first named teeth of the rack bar and a portion thereof engaging the variablev toothed actuator, whereby rack adjustment is effected to set the type wheel and the variable toothed actuator is adjusted to an actuating position relative to the register wheel gearing, and whereby the teeth of the selective element will remain in mesh with the cylindrically toothed rack during rotation of the shaft.

3. In a value printing and value registering machine, in combination, a printing drum and drum shaft, type wheels in said drum, register wheels including gearing therefor, splined shafts parallel to the drum shaft, variable toothed actuator members longitudinally adjustable along said splined shafts, a cylindrically toothed rack on said drum shaft, said drum shaft and cylin drically toothed rack having a peripheral longitudinal recess therein, rack bars having teeth coinciding with the cylindrical rack teeth and positioned in said recess, said rack bars further having rack teeth geared to associated type wheels, and selective means including elements movable longitudinally of the drum and splined shafts, said elements having teeth meshing with the first named teeth of the rack bar and a portion engaging the variable toothed actuator, whereby rack adjustment is effected to set the type wheels and the variable toothed actuators are adjustedto their actuating positions relative to the register'wheel gearing, and whereby the teeth of the selective elements will remain in mesh with the cylindrically toothed rack during rotation of the shaft.

FRANCIS J. ROUAN. BERTHOLD KNAUER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 20,064 Ogden Aug. 11, 1938 2,005,038 :Kalman June 18, 1935 2,141,119 Wheeler Dec. 20, 1938 2,248,257 T'hatcher July 8, 1941 2,306,499 Rouan Dec. 29, 1942 2,321,425 Rouan June 8, 1943 2,371,070 Sager et a1. Mar. 6, 1945 2,488,143 Rouan et al. Nov. 15, 1949 2,510,350 Rouan et al. June 6. 1950 2,516,920 Ryan Aug. 1, 1950 

